Tips for Attending a Bridal Show

How Much Time Should I Spend at Bridal Show?

You will want to allocate between 2 and 4 hours of your time, so that you visit with as many wedding exhibitors as possible. Remember, it could take you two months to see the same number of vendors if you drove to each of their locations. Please arrive early to avoid waiting in line and to obtain seating for our bridal runway fashion show. Seating is limited and is on a first come, first serve basis.

Pre-register.Saves time and it might also save you some money by pre-registering online or at a local wedding shop.

Do a little planning before the show.Make a list in your notebook of what you need most and what your budget is for each item/service. But be flexible and leave some room for the unexpected – you never know when you might see something that you absolutely love that you would have never thought of looking for.

Can I take Photos?Yes, take a camera and take pictures of things you like, and then later you can stick them in your notebook. (Be sure to get the vendor’s permission first.)

What should I bring to the Bridal Show?As you meet vendors you really connected with make sure to have a system in place to remember them. We know that by the end of the show you will be so overwhelmed with information it will be very hard to remember what the name of your favorite vendor was.

Take a tote bag to carry all the brochures and samples you will collect. Fold a corner of the brochure, write something on any material you receive from the vendor, bring a notebook and write down answers to your questions, or better yet get some stickers that will make the vendor stand out among all the others when you open your bags. Trust us, going through all the materials you receive will be very overwhelming.

Print up some return address stickers with your name, address, phone number, email address and wedding date. Use these instead of having to fill out all those vendor forms by hand. You might also take some 3 X 5 cards with your return address sticker affixed to it in case some vendors run out of entry forms.

Slip a bottle of water into your bag so you won’t have to stand in line when you get thirsty.

Bring fabric swatches or ribbons or paper in your wedding colors so you don’t waste time trying to describe your colors to the vendors.

Make sure everyone who comes to the show with you has cell phones and that you all have each other’s numbers programmed into your phones in case you get split up.

Bring your calendar, day planner or iPhone with you so you can schedule appointments with vendors that you are interested in.

Get a notebook and tie a pen to it with a string. Then use it to make notes of things you like, questions to ask, prices and details you get from vendors, etc. You may visit with 13 different photographers, 5 different florist and 7 different bakers. There’s no way you will remember which vendor told you what. Alternatively, you could have your bridesmaid, or a friend write down things for you.

How should I dress?Dress comfortably and wear comfortable shoes. You don’t want to waste time by having to sit down to rest your feet every 20 minutes.

Don’t be afraid to meet the vendors.After all, this is your best chance to get to see what kind of relationship you can have with a future vendor and what they have to offer. You also eliminate the wasted time on driving, and consultations just to find out that what the vendor offers is completely not what you’re looking for. Some vendors focus more on the product, some focus on creativity, and some focus on relationships.

Ask questions.If you are looking for something in particular or in a certain color, be sure to ask the vendor about it. Vendors don’t have room to display everything they offer in a small 10 x 10 booth. It’s very possible that they have just what you are looking for.

Are Children Allowed to the Expo?Avoid bringing small children to a bridal show. Even though your flower girl may think she will have fun seeing all the beautiful wedding stuff, children quickly tire and will detract from your mission of finding vendors and ideas for your wedding.

Fashion ShowFashion previews are the most exciting feature of the show and last about 30 minutes each. They take place throughout the day to give you the chance to see one or all of them. If you have already chosen your wedding gown and your bridesmaid dresses, you may want to skip the fashion show in order to spend more time with the vendors.

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